REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: REVIVE THE EXISTING ARCGIS NETWORKED GIS AND DRWS PORTAL USING OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

1. BACKGROUND

The Metsi a Lesotho project, funded by the European Union (EU), is dedicated to enhancing access to safe and sustainable water supply and sanitation services in rural areas of Lesotho. This project is designed to address critical challenges within the water and sanitation sector, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to clean water, and poor sanitation practices. To tackle these issues, the project will deliver inclusive WASH facilities in rural schools, healthcare facilities, and communities, while simultaneously establishing and implementing a decentralized framework conducive to effective rural WASH management.

Central to this project is the capacity-building of local, district, and national departments responsible for water supply, WASH in schools, WASH in healthcare facilities, and the promotion of sanitation and hygiene education. A particular focus will be on empowering women and persons with disabilities. The project also seeks to support and equip key stakeholders including the Department of Rural Water Supply (DRWS), Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Environmental Health Division (EHD) in the Ministry of Health (MoH), District Council WASH teams, and Water Service Authorities (WSAs) and
Water Service Providers (WSPs) to effectively utilize monitoring and evaluation frameworks, GIS data, and planning tools to ensure accountability, transparency, and timely reporting of both physical and financial progress in WASH initiatives across communities and institutions. Ultimately, the project aims to improve health outcomes, reduce poverty, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of rural communities in Lesotho.